Canada: Sidestep

"Canada," said External Affairs Minister Louis St. Laurent a fortnight
ago in a fine burst of international spirit, "will be confronted with
new . . . responsibilities" in the U.N. One of them would be helping to
settle such problems as that of Palestine.

St. Laurent's Under Secretary, Lester Pearson, had already done an able
job as chairman of the U.N. Assembly's special committee on Palestine.
Last week, U.N. delegates talked about giving him that job again. But
Minister St. Laurent sidestepped. "Mike" Pearson was needed at home.
Said the Toronto Globe & Mail, acidly: "If Mr. Pearson could readily be
spared...